Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ended their winless run at Wankhede Stadium against Mumbai Indians (MI) which lasted a decade with a 12-run on April 8. After RCB's 12-run in a high-scoring encounter, former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Ambati Rayudu who is often critical of the franchise, thinks this time they have got the combination right. Rayudu said that he has enjoyed RCB's cricket but at times it's them versus them instead of the other team. He has backed the Rajat Patidar-led side to win their maiden title and said 'ee sala cup RCB de'.
"If you look at their team, they have a pretty set combination," Rayudu said on ESPNcricinfo's TimeOut show. "If you see the teams that are not doing well in the IPL, they are still trying their combinations. But RCB is one team, along with Delhi [Capitals (DC) and Punjab [Kings (PBKS)] to some extent, who have got their combinations well set for the season.
"I have always enjoyed their [RCB's] cricket. We have fun at their expense, only because nobody talks about DC or Punjab. Only because RCB always has a team that can win the IPL. But somehow, they come short because of their own shortcomings. Nobody else defeats them, it's them. But this year, with [Rajat] Patidar [as captain], ee sala cup RCB de (this year the cup is RCB's)."
Rayudu on Patidar's 'brilliant move'
Rayudu went on to praise Patidar for his decisions when Mi skipper Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma were on the attack. He feels that the decision to bowl Bhuvneshwar Kumar early instead of keeping him for the last two overs was a 'brilliant move'.
"For me, the biggest takeaway in that captaincy during those 20 overs is getting Bhuvi early," Rayudu said. "Because you generally associate Bhuvi to bowling either 19th or 20th. But getting Bhuvi early when they really needed experience, when they needed to get the game back into their control, I felt was a brilliant move.
"Because he could have gone [to] Krunal again, thinking that we have Hazlewood and Bhuvi. But even the execution from Bhuvi and Hazlewood was amazing. And this also shows this IPL is different, because there is no dew. Bowling yorkers even in the second innings has become slightly more easier. And also with the use of saliva."
With three wins from four games, RCB are third on the points table. They will go up against Delhi Capitals (DC) on April 13.